Hidden Scotland
Sign in
Open grass in Craigmillar Castle Park, a path running towards the trees and Arthur's Seat beyond.
Edinburgh

Craigmillar Castle Park

The woods and open grass around Craigmillar Castle in south-east Edinburgh, with a chestnut avenue, a yew walk, an orchard and paths to Little France.

Welcome

Craigmillar Castle stands on its rise in the middle of a wide green park, and the park itself is a good reason to come.

Around the castle lie open grassland, where the view runs north to Arthur's Seat, and belts of woodland old and new: a Chestnut Avenue, a Yew Tree Walk, Hawkhill woodland, and the Millennium woodland planted a little over twenty years ago.

The council's rangers and the Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust have spent the last few years opening it up, with the people who live around it. Some two kilometres of old paths have been mended and new ones cut through Hawkhill woodland, a forest play area has been built for children, and invasive laurel and snowberry have been cleared to let the woods breathe.

A path runs on from the park to Little France Park, where local volunteers have planted more than 7,000 trees, an orchard and a wetland, and on again to the Wisp.

A short drive awaySheep Heid InnAn inn in Duddingston village with a claim to 1360, one of the oldest in Scotland, with a skittle alley of the 1880s still in play.5 min by roadSee itSheep Heid Inn
Before you go

The park is open ground, free to walk at any time, and the council runs it day to day.

The castle in the middle keeps its own hours and charges for entry.

Where
South-east Edinburgh, around Craigmillar Castle, with paths on to Little France Park and the Wisp.
For children
A forest play area in the woods.

Been here? Tell others what you know, and the best go on this page with your name.

Add your review
Where it is

In south-east Edinburgh, around Craigmillar Castle, between Craigmillar and Little France.

Close byThe castle, and the loch and village under Arthur's Seat.
  1. Craigmillar CastleCraigmillar CastleEdinburgh's other castle, a tower house of the late 1300s where Mary Queen of Scots stayed in 1566.Under a mile 3 min by road
  2. Dr Neil’s GardenDr Neil’s GardenA garden made by two doctors on the church's glebe above Duddingston Loch.1 mile 5 min by road
  3. Duddingston LochDuddingston LochA natural freshwater loch under Arthur's Seat, ringed with reeds.1 mile 4 min by road
  4. Pink chaise longue in a hallway with chandelier and dark red wallsRhubarbThe restaurant of Prestonfield House, a mansion of 1687 below Arthur's Seat.2 miles 8 min by road
  5. 101 Bakery101 BakeryFancy cakes topped with fresh flowers, and cinnamon buns on the way past.2 miles 6 min by road
Directions
White-washed Sheep Heid Inn Duddingston with black-framed windows and a ram's head signRestaurantsSheep Heid Inn1.1 miles
Water of Leith winds through Dean Village beneath timber-fronted tenements and stone wallsAttractionsAround Duddingston village1.1 miles
Salisbury Crags and Arthur's Seat rise above Edinburgh's rooftops and Dynamic Earth's white tented roofAttractionsArthur’s Seat1.1 miles as the crow flies
Gravel path with stone steps leading towards a grassy hilltop peakAttractionsHolyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat1.1 miles as the crow flies
Calton Hill's monuments rise above Edinburgh's rooftops beyond a grassy parkAttractionsHolyrood Park1.1 miles as the crow flies
The dining room at Condita by candlelight, with round wooden tables laid for dinner in the foreground and string-art panels on the white walls beyond.RestaurantsCondita1.4 miles
The bright yellow front of Tiger Dragon at 87 St Leonard's Street, its sign reading Chinese Traditional Pancake, with a white bench under the window.CafeTiger Dragon1.5 miles
The bright café at Lady and the Bear, with wooden tables and chairs, plants along big windows and a blue counter at the back.CafeLady and the Bear1.6 miles
The pink front of Book Lovers Bookshop on Melville Terrace, its hanging sign reading A Romance Bookshop and romance novels in the window.ShoppingBook Lovers Bookshop1.6 miles

Recommend to a friend

The Daily for 23 October, from Scotland with love. Aerial view of a concrete road bridge with angled supports spanning a sea loch, twin cloud-wrapped mountain peaks rising behind autumn-coloured hills.

The Daily

Arrives at 5am every day.

A free morning email to see what’s on this week, catch up on what’s happening in Scotland and find somewhere new to go.

Stay nearby

Places to stay near the park, and when each is next free.

A turreted sandstone building with conical spires catches the evening light above rooftops, a large pine tree standing beside it.The Scott Hotel
  • A hotel
  • In Edinburgh
  • A mile from the park
Check datesA round table and chairs stand before tall curtained windows looking onto stone buildings, a sofa and mounted television to the right.Moment George IV Bridge
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Edinburgh
  • 2 miles from the park
Check datesA hotel studio room with a beige fitted kitchen unit and stainless sink beside a bed dressed in white and teal cushions, a wall of black-framed pictures above a patterned headboard.Old Town Chambers
  • To stay
  • In Edinburgh
  • 2 miles from the park
Check datesWest End Muse
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Edinburgh
  • 3 miles from the park
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in EdinburghAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
Hidden Scotland, the magazine

Scotland, in print.

We want to show you the best that Scotland has to offer. The makers and the creatives, the enduring experiences, the evocative tales, the concealed corners. The roads less travelled that take you to places that matter. The adventures that gather you up and sweep you away. The blend of the wild and the artistic that makes Scotland what it is. We’d love for you to join us.

Get Issue 13Read it here
Read on

What we have written about it and more in Edinburgh.

From the magazineWalks, Wildlife & Nature in Edinburgh
More in Edinburgh
Find out more

For further reading, before you go. The details on this page were checked on .